GAP protection covers the scenario where a motor vehicle is totaled in an accident or stolen and not recovered. Insurance will pay for the retail value of the car minus the deductible. If that is not enough to pay the car loan, the consumer is responsible for the...
Month: February 2014
Games Dealers Play: Inflating the Down Payment
When we evaluate a potential client's contract documents, we always check to see whether the contract accurately shows the amount paid as a down payment. A few weeks ago, we discussed the problem of some car dealerships not crediting the full down payment to a vehicle...
Games Dealers Play: Refusing to Refund the Deposit
. Some car dealerships can be quite aggressive when it comes to asking for a deposit on a car, and consumers are often persuaded to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars as a deposit. Some salesmen will say that the deposit is necessary to “hold” the car, claiming...
Setting a Budget BEFORE Car Shopping
We continue our blog series on things to do before car shopping at a dealership. One important step to take before visiting a dealership is setting a budget. I bought my first car in 1982. Although I had graduated high school and had two years of college, I was...
Setting a Budget When Car Shopping
I bought my first car in 1982. Although I had graduated high school and had two years of college, I was financially naïve. I had never learned how to set a budget or how to manage credit. I was, in that sense, very much like many consumers today. Fortunately, the...
Check Your Credit Report Before You Start Car Shopping
The next article in our blog series on things that people thinking of buying a car should do before they visit a dealership addresses the importance of checking credit reports. According to a 2019 study,over 85% of new car purchases and over 55% of used car purchases...
The Way We Buy Cars
Not many people are car shopping during the COVID-19 shutdown. However, once businesses re-open and people get back to work, car dealers will be aggressively marketing to the public. In order to help our clients and friends avoid becoming a victim of the Games...
Toxic Car Dealerships
A recent lawsuit filed by employees of a New Jersey auto dealer shows the toxic atmosphere that exists in some car dealerships. While there are many car dealers that respect their employees and customers, we have heard many stories from employees and consumers about...
Avoiding Repossessions During COVID-19 Shutdown
Are you concerned about avoiding a repossession due to lack of work or reduced income because of the COVID-19 pandemic? Consumer Law Group Managing Attorney Dan Blinn offers advice on dealing with auto lenders in this new video.
Why Does the State Tolerate Auto Dealer Fraud?
The most frequently asked question that we hear from consumers who have been victimized by Auto Dealer Fraud is "How Do They Get Away With It?". We regularly see examples of auto dealers committing fraud, forgery, odometer violations, and the sale of dangerous cars....
Recalled Cars: The Five Minute Exercise That Can Save Your Life
A recent study by the Consumer Federation of America found that there were 70 million recalled cars that were on American roads. "While these open recalls present a clear hazard to the occupants of these vehicles, they are also a hazard to the rest of the driving...
Home Improvement Hassles – Dan Blinn in the News
Consumer Law Group Managing Attorney Daniel Blinn was recently interviewed by NBC 30 News about a consumer who hired a Home Improvement contractor who did not finish the job.The story, which broadcast on November 8, 2019, discussed a Wallingford resident who hired a...
Consumer Prevails in Auto Warranty Claim Involving Certified Car
A Connecticut consumer recently won an Auto Warranty claim in United States District Court. The consumer had sued Brandfon Honda in Branford Connecticut. The dealership had sold the vehicle pictured above as a certified-pre owned car. The jury found that the...